For cheerful splashes of color from early June until frost, no plant excels the modern floribunda rose.
These versatile plants fit into any garden design, formal or informal, and lend interest and charm with their attractive growing habit and prolific bloom.
Floribunda Rose’s Features
Floribunda roses have inherited their desirable qualities from the modern hybrid tea and the older cluster-type polyantha.
The everblooming habit and wide color range of the hybrid teas and the hardiness and disease resistance of the polyanthus are apparent in their makeup.
In recent years, rose hybridizers have developed much larger and fuller flowers.
Floribundas are of the upright form, growing from 2’ to 4’ feet tall or more, making them suitable for many decorative purposes.
Generally, the bushes are compact with abundant foliage making a splendid setting for the flowers.
The blossoms are produced in clusters on strong, stiff stems, which makes them ideal for garden display or indoor decoration.
Another pleasing feature of this type of rose is how the flowers develop—they do not all open at the same time, thus prolonging the bloom period.
Related: Design Landscape For Floribunda Roses
Longest-Lasting Blossoms
Floribunda blossoms are among the longest-lasting flowers on the bush or when cut. They belong to the group known as “good keepers.”
These roses need little attention in return for the myriads of flowers they produce all season.
They require no more care than any other good flowering plant.
Ideal Planting Conditions
Choose a location with as much sun as possible and plant in well-drained garden soil fertilized with rotted stable manure, old compost, or any prepared organic fertilizer.
During prolonged dry periods, give the ground a good soaking.
Spraying or occasionally dusting with one of the all-purpose sprays or dust will free the bushes from disease and insect pests.
Picking off the blooms as they fade is another little attention that will increase flower production.
Uses Of Floribundas
Floribundas are surprisingly beautifully planted in beds by themselves, either when one solid color is used or when harmonizing colors are planted together.
Use them as a border for shrub roses or perennials, in bays against an evergreen hedge, or here and there among evergreens for color effect.
They may be planted in odd corners of the garden for accent purposes, used as a low-growing, blossom-laden hedge to border a walk or driveway, or as a tall, informal hedge to mark dividing lines between properties.
They are equally effective in flower arrangements in the home or exhibition when cut.
In selecting varieties for specific decorative purposes, consider the height of the plant.
My Selection Of Floribundas
If a tall hedge of roses is desired, for instance, Betty Prior, Donald Prior, or some of the Poulsen introductions would be suitable.
The average height of most other floribunda roses does not exceed 3’ feet, making them ideal for more general use.
There is an “embarrassment of riches” from which to choose when it comes to color.
Here is my selection of floribundas:
Pink Varieties
- Betty Prioh is one of the loveliest and most popular varieties. Flowers resemble pink dogwood in size, shape, and color.
Tall and vigorous. Blooms in large branching clusters. Suitable for background or hedge.
- Fashion won a 1950 All-America Rose Selections award. Buds of Oriental red open to large, coral-pink blossoms overlaid with gold.
A new color in roses. Plants are vigorous and bushy, about 3’ feet tall, with excellent foliage. One of the finest of all floribundas.
- Else Poulsen has single, bright rose pink blooms. Attractive both in-bud and open flower.
Plant tall and strong growth, and seldom out of flower. Fine for hedge, specimen, or background.
- Pink Bountiful has reddish pink buds which open to flowers of hybrid lea form in clear, vivid pink.
Particularly good as a cut flower for any artistic purpose. Hardy, vigorous plant, about 3’ feet tall.
- Pinocchio is an exquisite salmon pink miniature hybrid tea form. The low-growing, well-branched plants seldom exceed 2’ feet in height. Continuous bloomer.
- Tapis is a new floribunda of French origin. Soft Tyrian rose pink. The color sometimes varies, hence its name “carpetlike,” but the variations never lose their charm.
This blooms all summer freely. A neat plant about 3 feet tall. Ideal for any artistic arrangement.
Red Varieties
- Donald Prior is a vivid scarlet. The plant is tall with excellent foliage and is continuously in flower.
One of the best where a tall kind can be used. A fine companion to Betty Prior.
- Floradora won a 1945 All-America Rose Selections award. The gayest floribunda of them all.
Distinctive cinnabar red color. Neat, symmetrical plant with good foliage and free bloom. Crows to about 2 ½’ feet tall. A fine counterpart to any white variety.
- The Permanent Wave has cardinal red blooms in large clusters.
Petals are waved or fluted, giving the flowers a novel look. Vigorous plants, about 2 ½’ feet tall.
- Red Pinocchio is deep velvety red with large clusters of flowers on a bushy, free-flowering plant. It is rated very high among the floribundas.
- Red Ripples is a true red in both buds and fully open flowers. Blooms have attractive, wavy petals, freely produced on 3 ½’ foot plants. Very long-lasting.
- Valentine, a new, brilliant crimson floribunda, has semi-double flowers in large clusters.
The bushy, compact plants grow to 2’ feet. Free-flowering. An excellent, bright red for hedge or border.
- World’s Fair won a 1940 All-America Rose Selections award. Large double flowers of a velvety crimson scarlet. Plant vigorous and prolific in bloom. Height at maturity 3’ feet.
Yellow Varieties
- Goldilocks has double, golden yellow blooms of hybrid tea form. Free-flowering. Spreading, bushy plants with dark green foliage. Height 2 ½’ feet.
- Yellow Pinocchio is a new Pinocchio color—apricot yellow. The sturdy plants are about 3’ feet high and bloom well.
White Varieties
- Irene of Denmark is pure white with golden centers. This is a happy addition to the comparatively few white floribundas.
The blooms are of good form and substance. The plants have moderate growth with nice foliage and are constantly in flower.
- Summer Snow has double, snow-white blossoms, generously produced. The plant is low-growing with light green foliage. Excellent where white color is desired or to blend with other colors.
Novelties
- Masquerade passes through color changes which make it unique. Buds of golden yellow touched vermilion, open first to yellow, then pink, and finally to dark red.
These color changes give the ‘flower cluster a hovel effect. The bushes are strong and free-flowering.
- Lavender Pinocchio is another novelty rose with artistic appeal for different reasons; the color changes somewhat in my garden.
The pink chocolate buds open to true lavender blossoms in the spring. In the season, the color change will turn to dusky pink and smoky lavender in the fall.
44659 by Frederic R. Webb